Government Affairs

Policy Matters | U.S. Department of Education Provides Updated FAQs for CARES Act Funds (October 2020)

October 29, 2020

Major Updates

  • U.S. Department of Education Provides Updated FAQs for CARES Act Funds

    Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education released updated FAQs around the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocations. This included clarifications that it would not take enforcement measures against universities who issued funds to students who were not Title IV aid-eligible prior to the Department issuing an interim final rule saying those students were ineligible for aid. They also clarified the institutional portion of the allocation to universities could be used  “to purchase equipment or software, pay for online licensing fees, or pay for internet service to enable students to transition to distance learning as such costs are associated with a significant change in the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus. An institution may also use Institutional Portion funds for any other costs for computer system upgrades that are reasonably related to ‘significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the coronavirus.’ This would not include, for example, previously planned upgrades to computer systems.”

    Read more and access the FAQs


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Kristen Brown, University of Louisville, Chair
Mark Bernhard, North Carolina State University
Frank Principe, University of Maryland Global Campus
Ricky LaFosse, University of Michigan
George Irvine, University of Delaware
Stephanie Landregan, University of California, Los Angeles
Abram Hedtke, St. Cloud State University
Debra Iles, Harvard University


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